Subaru in court for allegedly failing to give independent repairers equal access to car repair information

Australia’s competition cop has launched a first-of-its-kind legal action against one of the nation’s most popular car makers.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission alleges that between July 2022 and August 2024, Subaru did not give independent mechanics the required software and other technical information in the same way it did to Subaru dealerships.

The ACCC claimed this was in breach of Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Information Sharing Scheme, which was introduced in July 2022 to give independent mechanics a level playing field and allow them to compete with manufacturer dealerships.

“We allege Subaru Australia failed to comply with the MVIS, which is designed to promote competition between Australian car repairers,” ACCC commissioner Luke Woodward said.

“As a result, consumers may have been unable to use an independent, local or family-run repairer rather than using Subaru’s dealerships.

“This is the first court proceeding the ACCC has taken for alleged breaches of the service and repair information sharing scheme.”

In some cases, the ACCC said independent mechanics were only granted access through remote assistance, which required them to purchase additional hardware to connect the software to a vehicle.

The ACCC also alleged Subaru offered access to some information through an annual subscription. Under the MVIS scheme, Subaru Australia is required to make information readily available when a repairer requests it.

It’s also alleged two independent repairers have been denied information immediately upon request, or not at all.

The ACCC is seeking declarations, penalties, costs and other orders.